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An unconventional Inauguration parade route

As you watch President Barack Obama and his family walk up Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House from the U.S. Capitol during his inauguration, you could learn a bit about Washington by stopping to check out some of these highlights along the route.

Charlie Palmer Steak

Before the motorcade turns onto Pennslyvania Avenue, to the right, on Constitution Avenue, will be this famous powerspot, which, thanks to its proximity to Capitol Hill, has boasted that nearly every member of Congress has eaten there at some point. The private dining rooms have also been known as great places to get some “work” done out of the sight of prying eyes. (101 Constitution Avenue Northwest)

John Shinkle/POLITICO

Newseum

This shrine to journalism is very much like journalism itself: It’s had a declining audience and has had to lay people off. But, also like journalism itself, it is still kicking, thank you very much, so if you’re sick of hearing reporters weigh in on the first lady’s inaugural dress, head here to get a glimpse of some of journalism’s less cringe-inducing moments. (555 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest)

John Shinkle/POLITICO

Capital Grille

All eyes will be on the president as he makes his way down the parade route, but if you’re looking for other celebrities, you’ll likely have some success at this steakhouse, which has seen the likes of Sean Penn, Kathleen Turner and Tony Bennett. For political junkies, you might even see Terry McAuliffe get in a shouting match with a reporter, as reportedly went down between him and Mark Plotkin in 2009. (601 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest)

John Shinkle/POLITICO

7th and Pennsylvania

For those of you hoping to secure a spot along the route where the president and his family might step out of their motorcade unannounced, this could be a good bet; this is one of two spots where the president got out of limo in 2008.

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J. Edgar Hoover Building

The president keeps talking about the need to fix America’s crumbling infrastructure. He might want to start at the FBI headquarters as he kicks off his second term. Long billed as D.C.’s biggest eyesore, this building has been deteriorating and looking for a solution (read: new facility) for years. (935 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest)

John Shinkle/POLITICO

Carlyle Group

Depending on your take, a politico can do one of two things here: Get angry (the asset management firm has been the subject of ire in such liberal movies as Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 911” and William Karel’s “The World According to Bush”) or go and say “Hi!” to your friends (the firm has a roster thick with one-time political operatives). (1001 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest)

John Shinkle/POLITICO

Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

Want to usher in your second term with a nod to bipartisanship, Mr. President? A tip of the hat to this namesake of our 40th president could be a start. (It’s not really a conservative bastion, but sometimes the temptation is just too good to give up; the Conservative Political Action Conference was held here in 2005 and, last year, “Atlas Shrugged: Part 2” held its world premiere at the building.) (1300 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest)

John Shinkle/POLITICO

D.C. Government Office

If the president wants to remind himself of just what exactly political corruption gets you, he need only look left on the parade route, at the home of the District of Columbia’s government, home to a rich history of scandal plagued mayors and council members. (1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW)

John Shinkle/POLITICO

Willard Hotel

This hotel’s rich history (Lincoln stayed here before his first inauguration, as did Martin Luther King before his March on Washington), is only part of the appeal for political junkies; the hotel is currently offering an Obama-themed drink: The “Blue Hawaiian.” “People really want to taste that excitement and the energy that’s in the air,” said a bartender. (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest)

John Shinkle/POLITICO

W Hotel

If the president wants to play the part of a protective man of the house, he better stop here and head to the rooftop, which boasts one of the best views of Washington — and one of the closest to the White House. Each day, throngs of hotel goers head to its P.O.V. terrace rooftop and strain their neck to see just what it is they can see in those White House windows. (515 15th Street Northwest)

John Shinkle/POLITICO

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

This law firm is one of the biggest in the world and boasts such political alumni as Eliot Spitzer and Laura Ingraham. It’s not exactly unfamiliar territory to the president, either; Greg Craig former White House Counsel under Obama, is currently a partner there and its New York headquarters held a phone bank for then Sen. Obama in 2008. (1440 New York Avenue Northwest)